Search for Common Ground

Analysis

Search for Common Ground is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 1982, 44 years ago. Its declared purposes cover international, foreign affairs and national security, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Search for Common Ground reported income of $34.6m and spending of $37.1m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $23.2m to $34.6m (+49%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.

Among 10,317 United States charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, Search for Common Ground sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America ($34.5m), Kiva Microfunds ($34.7m) and Allegro Organizational Solutions Inc ($34.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 100% and program service revenue 0.0% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $2.0m (5.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $11.6m. At year end it held assets of $27.0m against liabilities of $11.1m, net assets of $15.9m. It reported 123 employees.